Rim for vehicle-wheels



W. F.,TRAVES.V RIM FOR VEHICLE WHEELS. 'APPLlc/nmu FILED Nov, '16, 1'911.-

vPatented maza-192,1.'

...ZIN/.927ML w. F. TRAVES. RIM FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. 19H.

41,4.0 1,377. Patented- De. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'la l W. F. TRAVES.

RIM Fon VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLRCATION FILED NOV. I6, 1917.

l 1,401,377, y Patented De@. 27, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- removed from the rim. Several constructions might .be utilized for this pui pose. In the particular construction shown the rim as a whole is split on a diameter, the meeting end portions of the half rim members being cut away or shaped in any suitable manner, .for example as shown in 6,. to form triangular or wedge shaped gaps 15 extending crosswise of the rim. These gaps 15 enable one et the rim members to be displaced with respect to the other, specifically by tilting one member out of the plane common to both, to a position such as illustrated in Fig. 5. The two oppositely disposed gaps in the rim have their wider portions at the channeled edge of the rim from which the casing is to be removed. o Therefore, when the rim is collapsed by relatively displacing its two members, as shown in Fig. o, the effective peripheral dimension or girth of its tire seat or rim base is so reduced that the tire can be readily removed therefrom or applied thereto.

While under some circumstances the two rim members may be detachably connected, nevertheless they are preferably permanently connected, such as by being hinged together vat their meeting ends at the points marked 16. The axis of this hinge connection is diametrical and vis in the plane of the flanged side 0f the rim, andthe gaps 15 become narrovver toward said axis. This hinged connection enables one rim member to be easily tilted or inclined relative to the other, so that the two members approach each other at one side of the rim, to wit, the upper side in Fig. 5, or the leading side during collapsing movement of the rim. The axis of the hinge connection is nearer to the opposite side of the rim, to wit, the lower side in Fig. 5, or the following side during collapsing movement, than to the first named or leading side.` Therefore, reduction in girth of the tire side begins with the initiation or very beginning of collapsingtilting movement and is not preceded by an initial increase in girth.

The binding or` holding ring t may be of any suitable cross sectional shape, but as shown is the usual channeled member having an inner annular rib 17 adapted to seat in the recess 7 of the rim 1. This ringis also so constructed as to enable it to be readily manipulated in attaching it or removing it from therein. Specifically, it comprises two half ring members hinged together on a diametrieal axis, as at 18, so that either of its members can be displaced relative to the other by vtilting it out of the common plane. The flange 19 forming the outer wall of the channel 7 of the rim, and which is exposed on the ring side of the rim is beveled olf slightly on its outer edge at both ends of one of the rim members, as shown at 2O Fig. 1. ffissuming that the rim with the tire thereon and the ring in place are lying llat on the iioor, if the tire is elevated on the side of the beveled portions of the rim, as shown in Fig. L1, the channeled portion of the riin moves inwardly until finally the rib 17 of the ring escapes from the channel. 7 of the rim, as shown in Fig. 8, and the beveled portions QO of the channel wall enable this half of the ring to be fully freed from the rim and raised to the position shown in dotted linesA The other half of the ring still has its annular rib seated in the channel 7 of the rim, but by pushing the ring to the left in Fig. ft, in the plane of the wheel, the ringl can be wholly freed from the rim and laid aside. then lifting further on the ri ght hand side ol the tire and rim, in Fig. 1, the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 5, or nere accurately the tire rises alone and the rim drops away from it. The parts may be reassembled by reverse operations.

Suitable means is also provided for locking the parts of the rim and ring together when in assembled relation, so as to malte the rim in effect a complete uninterrupted circle. This means comprises two removable wedge members 21, which lit exactly into the gaps 15, and which, as shown in Fig. S, are of exactly the same cross section as the rim excepting that they have no part corresponding to the rim flange 5. After the parts have been assembled together with the casing on the rim and with the two parts of the riin lying` in the same plane and with the ring fully seated in a. rim channel, the wedges 21 are pushed into place in their seats in the gaps 15. Then the rim and tire are then applied to the felly the pressure of the rib 11 and ring` 12 of the felly locks the wedges in place and prevents their escape. I preferably provide said wedges on their outer faces with cross hands or bars 2Q. whose outer ends extend beyond the inclined edges of the wedges. The projecting ends of these bands lie outside of the end portion of the rim members and prevent the wedges, when seated in locking position as shown in Fig. 3 from escaping inwardly toward the axis of the rim.

Additional locking means may also be provided for preventing loss of the wedges in cases, for example. where the rim is being ycarried as a spare Any suitable means may be used for this purpose, such as the short bars 23, provided with openings 2lthrough which small screws may be piissed into threaded openings in the rim members and wedge members respectively. These parts may be taken off when the rim is :1pplied to a wheel.

The rim described is of simple construetion and can be made and sold at low cost. Tt is very readily manipulated without the use of special tools and enables the tire to be easily removed from or applied to the rim. It is therefore especially useful on the larger sizes which are new so difficult to manipulate.

1. A rim for straight side or stiff bead tires, comprising coperating members each having a tire seat and a tire retaining flange provided with a straight surface extending radially outwardly and engaging the side surface of the tire bead, and connecting means constructed and arranged to permit relative lateral movement between said members, said lateral movement reducing the effective girth of the tire seat and alsovcausing movement of the tire bead relative to said flange surface to thereby loosen the tire Jfrom the rim.

2. A vehicle rim, comprising two substantially semi-circular members each having a tire seat, said members being permanently connected to form an annulus and shaped at their meeting ends to form wedge shaped gaps extending across the tire seat, the apices of said wedge shaped gaps lying adjacent one edge of the rim.

3. A vehicle wheel, comprising va plurality Aof members connected to form an annulus and provided with a casing-confining flange, said members being shaped at their meeting ends to form wedve shaped gaps extending parallel with the rimaxis and narrowing t0- ward said flange.

4. A vehicle rim, comprising7 two substantially semi-circular members each having a tire seat, said members being permet nently connected to form an annulus and shaped at their meeting ends to form wedge shaped gaps extending across the tire seat, and wedge shaped filler members for said gaps.

5. A vehicle rim, comprising two substantially semicircular members each having a tire seat, said members being permanently connected to form an annulus and sha )ed at their meeting ends to form wedge siaped gaps `extending across the ti're seat, the apices of said wedge shaped gaps lying adjacent one edge of the rim, and wedge shaped filler members for said gaps.

6. A vehicle wheel, comprising a plurality of members connected to form an annulus and provided with a casing confining flange, said members being shaped at their meeting ends to form wedge shaped gaps extending parallel with the rim axis and narrowing toward said flange, and wedge shaped filler` members for said gaps.

7. A vehicle rim, comprising coperating members forming an annulus and provided along one edge with a casing-confining flange and along the other edge with a peripheral channel, one of said members being adapted to be displaced relative to another and out of their common plane to reduce the effective girth of the complete tire seat or rim base from the flange to the opposite edge.

8. A vehicle rim, comprising cooperating members forming an annulus and provided along one edge with a casing confining flange` and Aalong the other edge with a peripheral channel, one of said members being adapted to be displaced relative to another and ont of their common plane away from the flanged edge to reduce the effective girth of the channeled edge of the rim, and a binding ring having a portion seating in said channel and a portion forniiing a second casing confining flange.

9. A vehicle rim, comprising coperating members forming an annulus and provided along one edge Awith a casing-confining flange and along the other edge with a peripheral channel, one member being adapted to be tilted relative to the other and to an inclined position to thereby reduce the effective girth. of the complete tire seat or rim base from the flange to the opposite edge.

10. A. vehicle rim, comprising coperating members forming an annulus and provided along one edge with a casing confining flange and along the other edge with a peripheral channel, one member being adapted to be tilted relative to the other and to an inclined position to thereby reduce the effective girth of the complete tire seat or rim base from the flange to the opposite edge, and a binding ring having a portion seating in said channel and a portion forming a second casing-confining flange.

ll. A vehicle rim, comprising a plurality of.' members connected to form an annulus and provided along one edge with an ontwardly extending casing confining flange and along the opposite edge in its outer face with a channel, said members being shaped at their meeting ends to permit lateral displacement of one member relative to another member to thereby reduce the effective girth of' the rim. i

l2. A vehicle tire rim, comprising two cooperating snbstantially semi-circular members hinged together on a substantially diametrical axis, whereby they may be relatively tilted to approach each other at one side of the rim, the axis of said hinge being located nearer to the following than to the leading side of the rim during the collapsing movement.

13. A vehicle tire rim, comprising two cooperating semi-circular members connected to form an annulus and provided along one edge with a casing confining flange and along the opposite edge with a channel, said members being hinged together on a substantially dlametrical axis whereby they may be relatively tilted to collapse the rim, the axis of said hinge being located nearer to the flanged than to the opposite side of the T1111.

operating substantially semA Viroula members hingel together on a substantially diametrieal axis, ,'vhereby the)Y may be reletively tilted to approach each other at one side ot' the rim, the axis of said hinge being` located nearer to the Eollonfnq` 'than to the leading` side oi? 'the rim dur the collapsing movement, the meeting` ds o''f said members being shaped to form 14. i vehicle tire rim, conn rising' two froe Wedge shaped gaps extending' erossWise of the rim.

l5. A vehicle tire rim, Comprising` two cooperating Semi-Circular .members conneeted to :term an annnlns and provided along one edge with a easing confining` iienge and along;` the opposite edge with a channel, said members being hinged together on a snbstantially diametrieal exis whereby they may be relatiiiely tilted to collapse the rim, the

axis of said hinge being` loeated nearer in the hanged than to the opposite side of the rim, the meeting ends oit said'membere be ingshaped to provide wedge ,shaped grape whose edges diverge toward the, channel edge of the rim.

16. n. vehicle rim, comprising` an annldns halting a flange alongone edgey and an annular channel along its opposite edge, and a binding` ring adapted to seat in .said hannel7 said ring comprising;` two members hinged to each other along a diametriezd axis.

17. A binding ring ttor rehielo rims, mm1- prising two members hinged together along' a diametrienl axis and io\'ided with an iw Wardly extending bead.

In testimony whereof I allix m; signal nre.

VEBESTER l?. TR En. 

